“It’s a fantastic value vacation for the services and the features that we provide on our ships,” Capt. Andrew Proctor of the Caribbean’s virtually identical sister ship Crown Princess said during a recent voyage on his ship, which holds 3,000 passengers and has a crew of 1,200.

“I think first-time cruisers are really impressed with the level of service over any shore-based establishments that they have possibly been to. It is second to none on cruise ships, it really is.”

Proctor, a veteran with more than 40 years on the sea, said the crew have a sense of ownership and pride because the ship is also their home for months at a time.

“We try and make sure that everyone’s as happy as possible because it is their home, and if they’re happy living here, then they’ll clearly be happy looking after and serving our passengers, and that obviously means you have a great vacation experience.”

Karen Candy, a spokeswoman for Princess Cruises, said cruising takes the stress out of vacationing.

“Choosing a cruise vacation versus a land vacation is a great value, since it takes the hassle out of booking several properties to see various destinations, and a cruise includes meals, entertainment and incredible service.”

Despite the economic downturn of 2009, or perhaps because of the economic turmoil, cruise lines are packing cabins with passengers eager to find a vacation that offers less stress and better value. Price points also dropped sharply, meaning consumers got the benefit.

At the industry grows, it appears vacationers are getting over impressions that cruising was just for the rich.

The cruise lines have worked hard to overcome negative perceptions by extolling the value side of the cruise vacation — pointing out that you know the cost up front. Generally, the only costs that get added to your bill at the end of the cruise are gratuities, onboard purchases, costs for off-ship excursions and the possible big one: the tab for booze.

Selling cruises to the public is one of the reasons Cruise Lines International Association is around. The organization, known as CLIA, lists value as the top reason for cruising, because the price includes your cabin, dining, entertainment and more.

“The value picture is very clear," said Lanie Fagan, CLIA’s director of communications.

Fagan said the items included in the price give the cruise vacation a distinct advantage over land-based holidays.

“Overall price point . . . food, lodging, entertainment, as well as the important tangibles, such as visiting multiple destinations/countries without the need to drive, pay, pack and unpack, further drive home the overall value proposition,” Fagan told Canwest News Service — adding that the facilities on ships make cruising equal, if not superior, to many land-based trips.

“The industry's history of thriving through even the hardest of times gives our guests confidence that they are making a safe and rewarding purchase. And, most important, cruise vacations are perceived by virtually all consumers as very high value when those consumers are seeking value above all else."

Another common selling point for cruise lines is their efforts to go overboard pampering guests with incomparable service you would only expect from elite resorts.

The food can also be a major selling point — not just the fact that lines offer 24-hour, all-you-can-eat dining. In fact, the lines have all made efforts to ensure quality is as important, or more important, than those just looking for quantity.

Generally, gourmet fare is available in a variety of settings, from formal dining rooms, to casual eateries or neighbourhood-style bistros. Of course, you can also ensure that children and the pizza and burger set can find something palatable.

Cruise lines are also specializing in catering to guests with different tastes. Travel agents and websites such as cruisecritic.com are excellent sources for first-time guests. If you have children, special needs, want to be among people your own age, want to be on a party boat, or find a quiet ship, these are valuable sources for helping you make that choice. There are also special-interest or theme-based cruises, or those with celebrity hosts.

In addition to shore-based activities, there are countless sports, lectures and entertainment activities for the early-risers or the night owls. If you want to keep to yourself, you can still do that, even though there may be 3,000 other guests on your ship.

There is also the romance of the sea — something that has attracted people as long as there have been ships afloat. There’s something to be said for falling asleep in one destination and waking up in a different country or port of call.

CLIA also claims that cruises have a higher percentage of satisfied customers than any other vacation experience.

Despite the economic turmoil, nearly 13.5 million people sailed last year, CLIA said in a statement. It forecasts a total of 14.3 million passengers in 2010.

The cruise lines are betting that more people will fill their cabins in future. A number of lines introduced new ships or plans for new vessels in the near future. Carnival Cruise Lines plans to raise its passenger capacity to 3,650 on a vessel it has ordered for delivery in 2012. Royal Caribbean answered with its 225,000-ton, 5,400-passenger Oasis of the Seas and plans for its sister ship Allure of the Seas, which will also carry 5,400 passengers.

Other new ships:

• Norwegian Cruise Line: Epic (4,200 passengers)

• Celebrity Cruises: Celebrity Eclipse (2,850 passengers)

• MSC: MSC Magnifica (2,550 passengers)

• Costa Cruises: Deliziosa (2,260 passengers)

• Holland America Line: Nieuw Amsterdam (2,100 passengers)

• Cunard Line: Queen Elizabeth (2,092 passengers)

Carnival, which also owns Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, and others, had revenues of $13.2 billion in 2009, compared to $14.6 billion the year before. Carnival’s brands operate 93 ships with another 13 on order.

"We weathered the most challenging economic environment in the company's history exceptionally well,” Micky Arison, Carnival Corporation Chairman and CEO, said in a statement in December.

Norwegian Cruise Line said after a “weakness experienced in passenger ticket pricing,” its occupancy rate has hit a record of 114.8 per cent. While revenues were down, it noted the cruise cost decreased in the third quarter.

'With the departure of Norwegian Majesty on November 2, our entire fleet is now comprised exclusively of modern vessels purpose-built for our signature Freestyle Cruising. With these great assets, and the addition of the highly anticipated Norwegian Epic in 2010, I am extremely confident about Norwegian's prospects for the future,” said Kevin Sheehan, chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line.

On the web: Canwest News Service asked frequent cruisers why they choose this type of vacation and many offer tips for first timers on cruisecritic.com. Read what they had to say: http://bit.ly/6EStfY

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